AN: I'm really sorry about the long wait everyone. I lost my bb book and only just located it. So here is the new chapter. Once again I own nothing (sob).

It was late afternoon. The heron team had the basic structure for their barracks completed. The four floor frames and their matching roof beams were in place, the latter supported at their four corners by poles sunk into the post holes Stig and Zac had dug. They stood back to inspect their work. Hal nodded, satisfied. As the structure grew, so did his confidence. He was actually beginning to enjoy the feeling of directing the other boys in their tasks.

"We'll build A-frames for the roof," he said, "and stretch canvas over them. That should keep it pretty waterproof."

"Maybe we should also cover the canvas with some pine branches just to make sure."

Hal jumped. He had almost forgotten Zac was there. He hadn't talked much through out the process, just done as he was told. Hal considered Zac's proposal.

"Good idea. You and Edvin can go cut some down."

"What about the walls?"

This question came from Jesper.

"More canvas. We've got plenty of that. In effect, we're building a big, timber-framed tent."

Stig glanced towards the east, we're a mass of cloud had gathered and was roiling towards them, its shape changing constantly as it was driven by the winds.

"We'd better get a move on with the roof. It'll be raining in an hour."

Zac had a slightly smug look on his face, but didn't comment. Hal took charge once again.

"Right, well we'd better get a move on then. Zac, Edvin, you got get some pine branches. Stig, Ingvar and I will rig the canvas. Ulf and Wulf, dig a drainage trench around the outside to keep the ground water running away. Jesper and Stefan: start nailing the floorboards to a couple of beams so theyre off the ground."

"you said they won't cover the whole area,"

Stefan pointed out. Hal nodded

"I know. But they'll make a raised sleeping platform big enough to keep us off the ground.

Stefan nodded.

"Good thinking. That must be why you're the boss."

"I thought it was my good looks and sparkling personality."

Zac, who was about to leave with Edvin and had overheard, shook his head very deliberately.

"No. That's defiantly not the reason."

Stefan and Stig grinned. Hal bowed slightly in Zac's direction.

"Thanks for pointing that out Zac."

Zac smirked back at him.

"Happy to help."

With that parting remark, he and Edvin left to go find some pine branches.

Hal noticed that Ulf and Wulf were arguing over identical shovels. Hal walked over to them.

"Why don't you just swap?"

The twins stopped to stare at Hal. Then with very bad grace, Ulf snatched the shovel from Wulf's hand and thrust the other shovel at him. Wulf took it, glared at it suspiciously, then nodded with very bad grace. They then listened to Hal's instructions and set out to follow them. Hal glanced at Stig.

"That should keep them apart for about an hour."

Stig grinned at him.

"And that's the real reason you're the boss. Nobody else can handle those two."

In just over forty minutes the barracks was complete. The rain started to fall just as Zac and Edvin with the help of Stig lashed the last of the pine branches to the roof. A few minutes later, the twins had net at the front of the building and the bickering began once more. Sighing, Hal went to see what the trouble was this time. The others smirked and followed him.

"What's the problem?"

Ulf, or maybe it was Wulf, pointed contemptuously at his brother's trench.

"Ulf's trench is too shallow. Mine is much deeper. It'll hold more water."

Ulf was indigent. He turned to face Hal.

"But mine is wider than his!"

"Yours should be deeper."

Hal took his eyes off the bickering twins and studied the two trenches. He turned his attention back to the bickering twins.

"Deeper is better."

"Only if you're a numbskull."

"Numbskull yourself! Want me to numb your skull with shovel?"

"Want to try it?"

"You dare me to?"

"You want me to?"

"Go ahead."

"No. You go ahead."

"No. You go -"

"Oh for Gorlog's sake, will you SHUT UP!"

Hal could stand it no two brothers stopped in surprise. He shoved his way between them and pointed at one.

"You! Which is your trench?"

"The good one."

Then, seeing a very dangerous light in Hal's eye, he added.

"The deep one, and it's better because it'll hold more water."

Hal turned to the other twin.

"What's so good about a wider trench?"

The second twined shrugged.

"Because if it's wider, it'll hold more water."

"So,"

Hal was forcing himself to stay calm.

"A deeper one holds more water..."

Twin number one nodded.

"And a wider one holds more water..."

This time twin number two nodded. Finally, Hal abandoned the enforced calm

"You blasted, blithering idiots, one's wider and the other's deeper - so they'll both hold THE SAME AMOUNT!"

The two brothers stood, quite taken aback. They frowned, their lips moving in silence as they considered what Hal had said.

"That's right. I didn't think of that."

The other agreed with his twin.

"Neither did I. Although I'm sure I would have."

"I would have too!"

"Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!"

The twins fell silent at Hal's yelling. Hal pointed at the nearest twin.

"You, what's your name?"

"Why it's Wulf, of course. Everyone knows that."

Hal glared at them balefully. He called to Zac.

"Zac, fetch me a short piece of rope, would you?"

Sting grinned.

"Going to tie him up?"

"Why not hang him?"

Hal glared at Ulf. Then he snapped his fingers at Zac.

"Get me the rope. Light cord. Half a meter or less."

Zac obviously didn't appreciate been snapped at, but obliged. Hal stepped forward and knotted the rope around Wulf's wrist, cutting off the excess with his knife.

"There, now we all know who's who. Wulf has a wope on his wist."

Edvin frowned.

"That's a little childish, isn't it?"

Hal glared at him.

"Can you think of a better way of remembering?"

Stig's grinned widened.

"Don't you mean 'wemembering'?"

"No. I don't."

Hal turned back to Edvin.

"Well, can you?"

"Um . . . As a matter of fact, I can't."

"Good. Then until you can, keep your criticism to yourself."

Edvin made a conciliatory gesture. Hal continued

"So now, I'm going to get out of the rain."

He shook his head at the twins.

"It's probably going to be a long night. At least it will be a dry one."

He went into the tent. The others followed until only the twins were left outside. Wulf looked after Hal and smirked at his brother.

"He's quite smart, isn't he?"

Ulf nodded.

"He is indeed. A real thinker. Not as smart as us, though."

Wulf unknotted the rope from his wrist and tied it on his brothers wrist instead.

"No. Not as smart as us."

From inside the tent, Zac smiled. These two would be quite useful, if he could get them to help him. Now all he had to do was convince them.